Rephonic
Artwork for The Reality Check

The Reality Check

The Reality Check
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Superintelligence
Daniel Dennett
AI Technology
Misinformation
Free Will
Orange Cats
AI Safety
Ufos
Consciousness Explained
Neural Networks
Trees
Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Early Mammals
Stanford Prison Experiment
Aliens
Peter Attia
Health
Nuclear Weapons
Poinsettias

Canada's weekly podcast that explores a wide range of controversies and curiosities using science and critical thinking.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes400Founded18 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Natural SciencesScienceSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Reality Check

Latest Episodes

The recent hack of Hugging Face servers by Open AI agents has raised some serious concerns about the current state of AI as well as implications on AI safety. Darren examines just what occurred and what this means more broadly. Adam investigates how ... more

Darren and Adam bring you a different type of show today as they have a discussion about the Christopher Nolan film The Odyssey. They discuss the film's merits and faults, technical achievements, their favourite parts of the film, other Christopher N... more

Darren explores issues of moral philosophy in his review of Death in a Shallow Pond: A Philosopher, a Drowning Child, and Strangers in Need by David Edmonds. In this analysis he looks at this classic thought experiment, its implications, criticisms a... more

Superman's costume is iconic, but why does he dress like that? We just assume that superheroes should be wearing tight fitting outfits, tights and a cape, but it wasn't always like this. Adam looks at what Superman, a hero created in the 1930s, is re... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Owen Clarkin
Tree aficionado and enthusiast
Episode: TRC #715: Mashup: Trees
Joe Nickell
Renowned paranormal investigator and writer for Skeptical Inquirer
Skeptical Inquirer
Episode: TRC #704: Remembering Joe Nickell
Dr. Cheryl Harasymchuk
Associate Professor at Carleton University in the Department of Psychology, expert in intimate relationships.
Carleton University
Episode: TRC #702: Talking Close Relationships with Dr. Cheryl Harasymchuk
Spencer Greenberg
Founder of clearerthinking.org and the Clearer Thinking podcast
clearerthinking.org
Episode: TRC #688: Interview with Spencer Greenberg
Darren McKee
Author, speaker, and AI advisor
Episode: TRC #679: A Chat With Author Darren McKee: Uncontrollable
Yoshua Bengio
Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Operations Research at the Université de Montréal
Montreal Institute for Learning Algorithms (MILA)
Episode: TRC #677: Interview with Yoshua Bengio

Host

Darren McKee
Host of The Reality Check and long-time voice of the show, frequently leads discussions with a skeptical, data-driven approach.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 529 ratings
  • Delete

    Delete

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MarkChicagoIL
    United Statesa year ago
  • Don’t waste your time

    Disrespectful to non-paid guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mx. Smith
    Canada2 years ago
  • Canadian Girl

    What happened to the Canadian girl that was part of this Canadian show?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MarkChicagoIL
    United States2 years ago
  • Inflation, blah, blah, blah

    The inflation episode was stupid. I wanted more about John VN.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MarkChicagoIL
    United States4 years ago
  • Great Podcast for the critical thinker

    Fantastic podcast driven by dedicated critically minded hosts. It’s been one of my favorite podcasts for years.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sc_78
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners repeatedly cite the show's rigorous yet approachable style.
Some critics wish for bolder treatment of controversial topics.
Many appreciate the Canadian perspective and humility in debates.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

TRC #715: Mashup: Trees
Q: Is the Amazon rainforest the lungs of the earth?
No, the Amazon produces oxygen but uses it through respiration, meaning it doesn't significantly contribute to the net oxygen supply for Earth.
TRC #702: Talking Close Relationships with Dr. Cheryl Harasymchuk
Q: Do you have any tips on how couples can continue to have quality time and activities while dealing with challenges of parenthood?
Adjust your expectations, find playful moments in daily life, and make an effort to set aside couple-only time when possible.
TRC #702: Talking Close Relationships with Dr. Cheryl Harasymchuk
Q: What have you found in your research?
On days when people play together by engaging in an exciting activity, they and their partners report greater relationship satisfaction and lower boredom that day.
TRC #702: Talking Close Relationships with Dr. Cheryl Harasymchuk
Q: What is your area of research and what questions drive you and your work?
I'm interested in what contributes to relationship satisfaction in established relationships and how couples fend off boredom in these established relationships.
TRC #700: The Rise of Podcasts + Are False Beliefs More Common?
Q: Have false beliefs become more common over time?
This episode analyzes the changes in belief regarding various scientific concepts and discusses how the internet and other media may have influenced these beliefs.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Reality Check

What is The Reality Check about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly Canadian show that uses science and critical thinking to explore a wide range of controversies and curiosities, often blending philosophy, data, and cultural critique with accessible humor. Recent episodes span ethics, effective altruism, modern technology, and media literacy, frequently featuring thoughtful debates between two steady hosts and a rotating slate of guests. Noteworthy is the consistent emphasis on evidence-based reasoning, transparent sources, and a willingness to challenge popular narratives, all wrapped in a conversational, mildly irreverent tone that attracts curious, skeptical listeners.

Potential listeners should expect rigorous analysis of current topics, clear explanations of complex ideas, and a flavor of li... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Reality Check?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Reality Check. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Reality Check and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Reality Check get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Reality Check, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Reality Check?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Reality Check, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Reality Check have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Reality Check has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Reality Check?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Reality Check:

1. Skeptoid
2. Skeptics with a K
3. Political Reality
4. Cognitive Dissonance
5. Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

How many episodes of The Reality Check are there?

The Reality Check launched 18 years ago and published 400 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Reality Check?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Reality Check?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Reality Check from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Reality Check?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Reality Check. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Reality Check?

Recent guests on The Reality Check include:

1. Owen Clarkin
2. Joe Nickell
3. Dr. Cheryl Harasymchuk
4. Spencer Greenberg
5. Darren McKee
6. Yoshua Bengio

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days